Closure for hypodermic-solution containers



.1. F. BIEHN.

CLOSURE FOR HYPODERMIC'SOLUTION CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC,7.1918.

1,413,703. f "Patented @11.25, 51922.,"

if? WJMWYW y JOSEPH FA'VIL BIEHN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASBIGNOR UNITED s'rA'rl-:s PATENT'OFFICE.

To 'mn Annerl* Lenorm- TORIES,' OF'OHIOAGO, ILLINOIS, A OOR?OIRIATION OF ILLINOIS. CLOSURE FOR HYPODERMICfSOLUTION OON'IAINERS.

Specification of Letters Intent. Patented Apr. 25', 1922.

Application led December 7, `1918. Serial No. 265,680.

Y lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in closures for hypodermic solution containers, and particularly relates to a closure which is so organized that a hypodermic needle may be forcibly thrust through the closure into the container forthe purpose of withdrawing a charge of the solution.

The arrangement is such that a'fter the needle has been Withdrawn from the container, the closure will automatically seal itself to prevent admission of air or foreign matter, while at the same time preventing egress of the hypodermic fluid.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical, efficient, and practical closure of the type referred to.

In'the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my i11vention- Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a con- -tainer equipped with my improved closure;

Fig. 2 is av plan view of the 'containerl *shown in Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is a view showing the manner in which a charge of the solution is withdrawn from the container by means of the usual. hypodermic needle.

Referring to the drawings, which are considerably larger than actual size so as to show the mechanicalarrangement more distinctly, 10 represents a phial in which the solution for hypodermic purposes is put up and stored or marketed. Such phial which, for obvious reasons, is usually made of glass, has a somewhat reduced neck portion 11, the outer end thereof having an annular enlargement l2 surrounding the mouth of the phial, thereby providing a circular' rim or shoulder 13.

The sealing of the phial is eifected by means of a stopper or closure 14 constructed of a suitable grade of soft vulcanized rubber. The said rubber member 14 has a cylindrical portion which fits snugly within phial by means of a permanently applied thimble member 17, the bottom edge of whlch is spun or crimped around and below i the shoulder 13, as'shown at 18.

`In order to permit the insertion of the hypodermic needle to withdraw the solution, the rubber closure 14 is formed with a central opening 19, the top of the thimble member 17 being also correspondingly apertured, as indicated at 20. The opening 19 in the outer end of the closure 14 isl made co-axial with a somewhat similar opening 21 on the inside of the closure, said two cavities 19 and 21 being separated by a comparatively thin dlaphragm 22 formed as an integral part of the rubber closure 14. The thickness of the diaphragm 22 is such that the needle 23 of a hypodermic spring 24 may readily be thrust -into the phial, as indicated in Fig. 3, for the purpose of withdrawing a portion of the hypodermic solution 25. When the .needle is withdrawn after lilling the syringe, the hole in the soft rubber diaphragm 22 closes up automatically and thus insures that the remaining portion of the contents of the phial will not escape, evaporate or become contaminated by l exterior agencies.

In practice, I prefer to make the cylindrical portion of the closure 14 slightly greater in diameter than the interior diameter of the neck of the phial so that the diaphragm 22 will be under a slight compression, thereby enhancing the natural tendency ofv the rubber to close up and seal the aperture or apertures made therein by theinsertion of the hypodermic needle.

In order to prevent foreign matter from gaining access to the top of Jche diaphragm and thus contaminating the point of the needle, I prefer to cover the top of the closure with a thin metal thimble shaped cap 26,

which is a sufficiently good fit on the inner permanent thimble member 17 to prevent its of its being` readily removed when it is desired to withdraw a portion of the solution.

The scope of the invention should be determined by reference to the 'appended claims 105 rather than by reference to the mechanical details herein described.

I claim* l. In combination, a container for hypodermic solutions provided with a neck and 110 mouth thereto, a rubber sealing element fitting Within the neck of said container and having a flange overlying the lip of the mouth thereof, permanently applied metallic means forforcing said Hange into tight fitting engagement with said lip, the inner and outer ends of said sealing element being each formed with a recess, and a sealing dial' phragm formed as an integral part of said rubber element constituting a partition between said recesses, and being readily perforable by the needle of a hypodermic syringe. Y y

2. In combination, a container for hypodermic solutions provided With a neck enlargement constituting a shoulder, a rubber stopper snugly fitting Within said neck and having an outer flan e an annular metallicmember overlying said fia-nge for holding said flange in tight fitting sealing engagement with the lip of the mouth of said neck 'and having its lower edge formed to embrace said shoulder, said stop-per being provided With an inner and an outer axially extending recess, and a diaphragm constituting an integral part of said stopper and the Wall between said recesses andl capable of being readily pierced by the needle of a hypodermic syringe. Y

3. In combination, a container for hypodermic solutions provided with a neck enlargement constituting a shoulder, a rubber Stopper fitting Within said neck and compressed thereby, an annular flange formed on said member'.

JOSEPH FAVIL BIEHN. 

